ABSTRACT
Thatdayshereturnedhomeandthought-"Iwonder whohecanbe?IknownotwherehelivesandIhaveno meansoftracinghim.HowevermuchImaypineformy lovedonemypowerofwillisnotpowerfulenoughtoreach tohimandthusfulfilmydesires.IthinkmyselfthatIam foolish,butalthoughIstrivetobanishmythoughtsasvain andsilly,yetIcannotforamomentrelievemyhea.rtofits trouble."Thustimepassedwearilyforher,andthedays andmonthsflewbyuntilithadbecometheseasonofthe summerrains,withitsintermittentshowers.Herthoughts weremelancholyandshedidnotevenhaveherhairdressed, butallowedittofalldishevelledoverhershoulders.Shehad beentakensicksometimepreviously,andthereforeherparents wereveryanxiousabouther.Onedayherfather,addressing hermother,said-"Onthinkingoverthematterofour daughter'sillnessverycarefully,shedrinksnomedicineand shedislikesthedoctor,andthereissomethingaboutitwhich Icannotunderstand.FromwhatIheardaccidentallythe otherdayfromaneighbour,itseemsthatatthetimeof viewingthecherry-bloesomsourdaughtermetsomeyoung gentlemanatMihashiandshecannotforgetabouthim.I don'tknowwhohewas,butitseemsthathewasavery handsomeyouth.Ihaveheardthatatthattimeshespoke
abouttheyoungmantoherfriends,butIdidnotthink anythingaboutit,andyetitappearsthatourdaughter returnedhomeandfromthattimeshehasbeenmopingandmiserable.Latelyhersicknesshasincreased, andbecomeveryserious,andsheiswastingawayand lookswretched.Ifyouwillquietlysoundheronthe subjectshewillprobablytellyouthefactsofthecase."Beingthusaddressedthewifespokequietlywithherdaughter thateveningaboutthematter,butsheonlyburiedherfacein herpillowandmadenoreply.Inashorttimehowever,she thoughtthatafterallnowthingshadcometosuchapass therewasnouseinconcealinganythingfurther,soshetold everythingsaying-"Atthetimeofflower-seeingthisSpring -&c,&c,-."Thenshewentontoconfessthewholematter tohermother,whilehereyeswerestreamingwithtears,and asshecriedandfrettedina·halfapologeticmannershe lookedverymiserableandpitiful,andshefinishedbyimploringhermother,withavertedface,nottolaughather.Then themotherdrewnearertoherdaughterandaskedherina lowgentlevoice-"Doyouknowthenameoftheyoungman ~mdhisresidence?Haveyouheardsomethingaboutit?" Butherdaughterraisedherheadandreplied-"Ihadno meansofknowinghisnameorresidence.TheonlythingI rememberisthathehadonagarmentonthesleevesofwhich therewasapattern,andIamthinkinglovinglyabouthim." Themothernoddedandsaid-"Wellthen,ifIhaveadress dyedwiththepatternwhichyouthensaw,andplaceitatthe sideofyourpillow,itmaygiveyousomecomfortandrelief." Onhearingthisthedaughterseemedveryhappy,andthe parentsenquiredminutelyaboutthepatternandthecolouring
2;38HistoryoftheYoshiwaraYakwaku.
